Previous rumors said that since Microsoft is readying a major update for its platform for later this year, the tech giant will need launching devices to showcase the improvements, and one of the flagships will be the Surface Pro 5.
However, recent speculations suggest that Microsoft may delay the release of the new Surface Pro, along with other Surface flagships, and re-schedule their reveal early next year instead.
According to Yibada, one of the primary reasons behind the delay is that Microsoft is adamant about its upcoming Surface flagships being top-tier devices, and it wants them to feature the next-gen Kaby Lake processor from Intel. However, it is said that Intel will not be able to mass-produce the seventh-generation chipset in the limited timeframe. Microsoft, instead of compromising with a still-powerful Sky Lake chipset, decided to wait it out.
In addition, the upcoming Redstone 2 update for the Windows 10 platform comes in two parts, with the introduction coming out later this year, and the update completion scheduled for early next year. A 2017 release for new Surface products, including the Surface Pro 5 and Surface Book 2, will be most advantageous with a full-version Redstone 2 update already out.
Meanwhile, Microsoft waiting for the Kaby Lake release is possibly a good decision as the other rumored specs of the new Surface lineup paint it to be a professional-level product. For the Surface Pro 5, it is said that a Kaby Lake processor will be paired with a more-than-ample RAM capacity, as well as major upgrades like Ultra 4K HD display and USB 3.1 support. It is also said that the design and build for the next Surface Pro will also have massive improvements, making the Surface Pro 5 more mobile with a sleeker design and slimmer body profile. In addition, accessories such as the Surface Pen will also get massive tweaks.
